A Morphological and Genetic Analysis of Polistes versicolor: the Paper Wasp Invading the Galápagos Islands

Christopher Perrone, Biology and Psychology (Class of 2010) Research Advisor: Dr. Philip Starks

Polistes versicolor, a wasp native to Ecuador, has only recently invaded the Galápagos Islands. This invasion may have put us in position to explore evolution as it occurs, but only if we collect data as the invasion progresses. With preliminary evidence suggesting P. versicolor body characteristics vary with elevation, we gathered ecological, morphological, and genetic data during the early phase of this invasion. Individuals (n = 714) from the Ecuador mainland and six different island regions were collected by Philip Starks and Frank Sulloway in 2007 and 2008. Head, wing, and leg measurements were gathered. DNA was extracted and cataloged for each animal, PCR was performed on mainland and select island individuals, and loci were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We found significant morphological differences in relation to elevation. Data suggests that larger heads, smaller wings, and smaller legs are seen at higher elevations. Highly polymorphic loci have also been isolated for mainland individuals. Preliminary genetic data suggests that island-specific reductions in genetic diversity may have occurred and such limited variation supports morphological plasticity. These data will serve as a reference in morphological and genetic analyses over time to decipher whether plasticity or evolution is driving such differences.

4. Mathematics: Although you may have to be a mathematician to understand the details of this abstract, it contains a good example of how to reference other scholars in an abstract.

Three Types of Randomness

Adam J. Raczkowski, Mathematics & Computer Science (Class of 2009)

Research Advisor: Professor Benjamin Hescott

Three types of randomness are integral to the strength of public-key cryptography. With the techniques of Allender et al., we present an analysis of how the ability to quickly distinguish Kolmogorov randomness allows for a probabilistic attack on two of the conjectured hard problems underlying public-key cryptography: the discrete logarithm and factoring. Specifically, Kolmogorov random strings are pertinent to inverting one-way functions and distinguishing pseudorandomness from true uniform randomness. This method provides a lens that more sharply categorizes the hardness of the discrete logarithm and factoring in the hierarchy of well-known complexity classes. Using this approach, we establish relationships between provably secure public-key cryptography, Kolmogorov complexity, and the essential cryptographic primitives.

5. American Studies (Media Studies, Music, and American Politics): This abstract foregrounds the original contribution the author is making to an emerging field of study.

Live and Direct: the Theoretical and Qualitative Impact of Live Nation on Contemporary Popular Music Performance

Mikey Goralnik, American Studies (Class of 2009) Research Advisor: Deborah Pacini Hernandez

The Reagan administration initiated an era of sweeping media deregulations that culminated in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, considered by many to be the most important piece of media policy in US history. In the wake of this broad legislative agenda, a handful of large corporate entities, the largest being California-based Live Nation, have come to directly own most of this country’s live music promotional apparatuses. While the existing literature on media deregulation and consolidation does not yet extend far enough to sufficiently address live popular music, the field’s dominating frameworks would suggest that by corporatizing and commodifying a media product, deregulation would have a decidedly negative impact on popular music performance. My research, the first that deals entirely with contemporary popular music performance, refutes that suggestion. Based on interviews with eight popular music performers on their experiences with Live Nation venues and promoters, my research characterizes the goals that popular musicians associate with their performances and arrives at a surprising consensus—that performers across the popular music spectrum feel like Live Nation does not compromise and actually enhances their ability to achieve their performance goals. My research expands the body of media deregulation theory to include popular performance, and my findings break from the ideologies that dominate the field, suggesting that live music requires a new framework and ultimately a new field of research.

6. Interdisciplinary Study in American History and Community Health: This abstract foregrounds the historical and social context of the study before describing the author’s analysis and findings in the last two sentences.